Environment Archives | Page 43 of 45

Swach Bharat Abhyan gathers ‘official dirt’ in Srinagar

October 3, 2015 Editor

Delay in funds keeps Srinagar out of top 100 list On October 2, the ambitious Swachh Bharat Abhyan (SBA) launched across India completed its one year but Srinagar continues to be out of the list of top 100 clean cities. Top official sources revealed the reason lies in delay in releasing funds. They said central government released funds only on last day of September—two days before its maiden anniversary. Only one-fifth of the toilets promised have so far been built, way behind the target and the larger problem is of…

Locals Censure SMC for failing to protect Khushalsar Lake

October 3, 2015 Editor

Locals and a group of concerned citizens have censured the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for failing to prevent encroachment of Khushalsar lake by land mafia. The concerned citizens including inhabitants of Sazgaripora and Khayeewan Mohalla said despite repeated complaints, the SMC has failed to prevent encroachment of Khushalsar near Aali Masjid, Sazgaripora and Ali Jan Road. “We thrice apprised the SMC about the problem, however no action has been taken so far. Due to inaction, the land mafia is encroaching upon embankments of Khushalsar and its Green Belt areas. The…

Healthcare facilities in J-K flout waste disposal laws

September 30, 2015 Editor

State lacks common biomedical waste treatment facility Healthcare institutions, both government and private, in Jammu and Kashmir continue to flout biomedical waste management laws with impunity, courtesy government indifference and lackadaisical approach of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB). The state government is yet to come up with a proposal to establish a full-fledged common biomedical waste treatment facility and depends solely on small units, two in Kashmir and one in Samba district of Jammu province, for treatment of bio-medical waste. These units, however, are unable to manage huge quantity…

Bangus Unlikely To Have Road, Expected To Be Biosphere

September 28, 2015 Editor

Given the growing concerns over the fragile ecology, state’s tourism policymakers are unlikely to permit a road to the northern paradise the Bangus Valley. While the entire housing infrastructure is planned to come up in the periphery of the scenic spot in the villages surrounding it, possibility of a ropeway is being explored to manage the high altitude connectivity. “We have the fragile ecology of Kashmir in mind and we will not like to copy Gulmarg or Pahalgam in Bangus valley,” Farooq Ahmad Shah, state’s Tourism Secretary told a seminar…

Kishenganga Hydroelectric Power Project| High Court seeks response on residents’ rehab plea

September 19, 2015September 19, 2015 Editor

A bench of Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar passed the direction on a petition filed by the nine inhabitants of Village Kralpora Check Bandipora in a representative capacity through advocate Altaf Mehra The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has issued notice to state government and National Hydro Electric Power Corporation for response on a petition seeking directions for rehabilitation of the families affected by the Kishenganga Hydroelectric Power Project in Bandipora in accordance with the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy 2007. The petitioners also seek directions for constitution of a panel…

Gangabal yatra begins tomorrow

September 19, 2015 Editor

The annual yatra to Gangbal lake, which is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva, is all set to start on Sunday. Talking to us, All Parties Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC) chairman Vinod Pandit said pilgrims had started arriving and the yatra would be flagged off from Naranag in Ganderbal district of the Kashmir valley. The yatra is being organised by the Harmukh Ganga Gangbal Trust (HGGT) with the support of the APMCC. “A group of around 100 devotees will set out for the yatra after the puja at…

‘Meadow of Gold’ loses its glitter

September 14, 2015 Editor

Unplanned, illegal constructions continue unabated in Sonamarg The ‘Meadow of Gold’ Sonamarg is fast losing its charm, thanks to the failure of the successive governments to prevent unplanned and illegal constructions from coming up at the world famous tourist resort. A number of concrete structures- including hotels, restaurants and even residential houses- have sprouted in Sonamarag. “These days Sonamarg seems to be turning into a residential colony due to the mushroom growth of unplanned constructions in recent past,” a local resident said. “Many influential people who had sought permission for…

Authorities sit on Jhelum encroachments

September 11, 2015 Editor

Restoration of river Jhelum has hit a roadblock as authorities have failed to take measures for removal of encroachments from its banks. Encroachments dot the river embankments at various places in the summer capital. In absence of any regulation, many hutments have come up on river banks at Pandrethan, Pampore, Chattabal and Qamarwari and its adjoining areas. “These hutments not only affect aesthetic beauty of Jhelum but also weaken its embankments. In case of rise in the river’s water level, there is risk that adjoining habitations can be submerged,” said…

Study reveals unique behaviour of captured wild animals

September 10, 2015 Editor

With man-animal conflict on the rise in Kashmir, a first-of-its-kind scientific study has thrown light on the newer aspects of this conflict and the behaviour of the captured wild animals in the region. The research on captured Asiatic black bears at Dachigam by four wildlife scientists has revealed that wild animals venture out from the protected areas to human-dominated landscape during early springs and late autumn months in search of food as these areas have availability of high quality food than their natural habitats, which is forest and protected areas.…

Would Kashmir’s autumnal grandeur be lost to urbanization greed?

September 10, 2015 Editor

As ripening paddy fields impart a magical golden-brown magnificence to the countryside, the soothing autumnal sun shines to confirm that the season of plenty has arrived in Kashmir – as an environmental disaster looms. From paddy, maize, apples, grapes and pears – all the yearly labour of local farmers and orchardists is readying to be harvested. “Almost all the marriages ceremonies in the past would be held after the harvesting period in the Valley,” Nisar Hussain, 64, a retired chief engineer, told IANS. “The poor farmer would get his return…